Unlocking the Mystery of Whisky

Since 1865 Glenfarclas has been owned and managed by just one family, the Grants of Glenfarclas. To this day Glenfarclas is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to remain family owned and managed. Now in the hands of the fifth and sixth generation of the family, the Grants remain committed to the vision of creating the best quality Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, in the traditional Speyside style.

The latest release from Glenfarclas is the new 1966 Fino Casks release, which marks the first in a series of six different Glenfarclas special releases, one for each generation of the family. Each bottle is housed in a black box bearing a silver coin which features an image of John Grant, who purchased the distillery six generations ago.

Glenfarclas Fino Casks

One of only 1444 bottles available worldwide and 300 within the UK – this rare Glenfarclas has been matured exclusively in fino sherry casks.

Click here to buy

Just Whisky’s November Auction is *NOWTOMORROW NOVEMBER 7TH, 2014*

The auction will run until Sunday 16^th November, and this month has an incredible array of high quality bottles to place bids on. We’re excited to see Just Whisky expand and are particularly keen to view this month’s auction in full.

View the auction here

Highlights (pictured above) include a 1948 Macallan Select Reserve, Macallan Diamond Jubilee, Glenury Royal 13 Years Old 1966, Ardbeg Corryvreckan Committee Reserve, Karuizawa 1981 Cask 6256, Ardbeg Single Cask’s, Caperdonich 11 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice.

These bottles are of course just scraping the surface of what appears to be, by far the best auction yet for Just Whisky.

Check out the auction at www.just-whisky.co.uk

We’re told this is likely to be the last auction which will be VAT free – so take advantage of the reduced commission. Happy Bidding!

• 1988 Blair Athol 25 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($154.99) Blair Athol, known mostly for its role in Bell’s Blended, is finally starting to get some recognition as a single malt. Diageo is scheduling a rare expression of the distillery for its next limited release and tourists visiting Edradour in Pitlochry are stopping by the quaint distillery on their way out of town; usually with a positive experience to report back. We’ve purchased a couple of younger hogshead casks in the past, but during our last visit to Signatory we dug out this ancient sherry butt of 26 year old Blair Athol that really blew our minds. The sherry influence is still quite fresh in the whisky as layers of cakebread and Christmas spices come quickly on the entry. That holiday flavor profile then moves into a round, resinous fruit flavor that coats the palate, revealing brandied cherries and oily, earthier notes. We left the Signatory warehouse pretty excited about Blair Athol, driving by the distillery on our way out of Pitlochry. We’ ;re even more excited about this heavenly 26 year old expression now that it’s here. And, trust us, when the word gets about it won’t be here long. This should be one of the first to go.

• 2001 Bowmore 12 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99) We absolutely killed it with the ’02 Hogshead at 46% this year, but we’re not done with Bowmore. This distillery is cranking out the most magnificent malt and Signatory gets these amazing high quality butts. This is more consistent with the house style than the last cask, bringing the nutty sherry slightly more to the foreground. It’s a stark reminder that Bowmore should be considered one of Scotland’s greatest distilleries. Treat this with the reverence it deserves and this whisky will make you feel like you’re the special one instead of the other way around.

• 1990 Bruichladdich 23 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($159.99) Clearly, we went a little Refill Sherry crazy this year, but how could we resist. We’ve been tasting this special cask every year since we first set foot in Signatory’s wonderful warehouses and we finally felt that it had reached it’s true peak. Bruichladdich is probably pretty sore that they don’t own this cask because it’s the perfect example of the unpeated Islay Malt. This hits every note without skipping a beat (while skipping the peat). The perfect amount of ripe round malty spice mixed with zesty citrus fruit. An ever so subtle oceany brine. The subtle nutty oxidative quality of the second fill sherry maturation. It’s a gem and will likely go down as one of our most re-purchased casks (those Bruichladdich fans are loyal after all).

• 1997 Glen Ord 17 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99) We went crazy for a few casks from 1997 this year and this Glen Ord is top of the top. Classic oily Ord, with tons of wonderful unusual malt flavors. It’s a goofy little whisky that shows all kinds of wild flavors. Tart white fruit on the nose, white cherries (do those exist?), linseed, wild flowers, waxed apples -not wax apples- the finest plum eau-de-vie. That aromatic fruit continues on the palate but is pointed by a spice that’s not altogether oaky. This one is for the real “malt nuts.” You know who you are.

• 1995 Glenburgie 19 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99) Signatory has an incredible selection of barrels from the mid-to-late 1990s; a number of 16-20 year old whiskies from less-appreciated distilleries that simply shine. We’ve already released a number of them to the pubic (Benrinnes, Glen Ord, Dailuaine), but this marks the first time we’ve ever purchased a cask from Glenburgie distillery; the Speyside distillery owned by Pernod-Ricard that has been periodically shutdown when not needed (most recently from 2000-2004). Few whisky drinkers, if any, expect greatness from Glenburgie, but we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t taste every cask! In this 19 year old hogshead we found heady aromas of toasted oak and candied citrus, supple vanilla on the palate, and a spicy, fruit-forward finish that made us instantly crave a second sip. We don’t usually argue about drinkable, delicious, 19 year old, cask strength whiskies for less than $100, but in this case the three of us couldn’t agree: di d we like it more or less than the Glenlivet 16? David D: yes! Kyle: no. David OG: unsure. In the end, we still bought it because it was too damn good to pass up. Especially for the money.

• 1997 Glenrothes 17 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99) Sherry-matured single malt is big right now and if you can get it at full proof, even better. Glenrothes has always been a fan-favorite at K&L for its chewy, meaty, full-bodied character and rich, supple profile, but lately more folks have been heading for the Aberlour A’Bunadh due to the higher ABV. We thought: why not combine the best of both worlds? Why not buy a sherry cask of Glenrothes at nearly 60% alcohol and give the people what they want? Even better: let’s double the age! Let’s do a monster 17 year old refill sherry cask and bring all that chewy, cakey goodness for all those sherry-heads out there. And the price! Let’s make sure it’s no more than $79.99. Can we do that? Well, we just did. Classic sherry-aged Glenrothes at full proof for about eighty bucks. Sound OK?

• 1998 Mortlach 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Sherry Butt Finish Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99) Can we keep the Mortlach momentum rolling? It seems that ever since we released that amazing sherry butt of Mortlach from Chieftain’s all those years ago, we’ve been riding a wave of Mortlach enthusiasm for the sherry-aged Speyside beast. Diageo even released their own single malt version (maybe we had something to do with that, eh?) We’re always on the lookout for more Mortlach, especially sherry-aged barrels, and it turns out that Signatory had a sherry-finished butt sitting in their Pitlochry location just there for the taking. The first sip is all you need to get excited: lots of gingerbread, cinnamon, holiday cookie goodness just explodes on the palate, with cakey, sherry flavor rounding out the back end. At full proof, it’s as much of a beast as ever. But the fact that this cask was simply finished in sherry, rather than aged in the sweet wine from day one, is a big benefit. The maltiness of the whisky is still there at the core and the finish still sings of whisky. It’s going to be a big hit; especially for $99.99.

• 1995 Imperial 18 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($84.99) Ok, so it turns out we are bringing you a rare closed distillery bottling after all, it’s just not from a distillery anyone has ever heard! I’m totally in love with this odd little distillery, which was dismantled and eventually demolished in 2013. Plans to build a news distillery are in the works -what a waste- but nothing will be quite like the fine old gentlemen that was the Imperial distillery. This cask was the best of several excellent ones we found in the warehouse. Bone dry, with concentrated nutty flavors, it’s fully bodied and lushes to the max. It’s not altogether unphenolic, with a slight earthy smoke in the background. Incredibly complex and deep, not the sort of whisky you can evaluate in a mere few moments, so be sure to let this one breath in the glass. Give it time and let it expand before you. Perhaps my favorite bottling in this batch and look at the price.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

You probably don’t want to hear any talk of the nights drawing in let alone mention of the ‘C’ word. However at some point we all have to accept the reality of our situation. It is autumn and Christmas is less than 8 weeks away. There I said it. Sorry.

But wait, it’s not all bad. We have some fantastic ideas to help warm you and yours over the coming weeks and months, including tasting packs, tastings in January and Newcastle Whisky Festival 2015…

Add to that a bit of news and banter and we’ve got you covered for the 5 minutes or so it takes you to read this.

TASTING GIFT PACKS

After the roaring success of our experimental tasting packs over the last few months, we have decided to expand our range to ensure there’s something for everyone.

They really are a fantastic way to sample whisky from home without investing in a whole bottle of something you’re not sure you’re going to like.

Therefore we have the following packs for your delectation over the next couple of months…

ISLAY FESTIVAL BOTTLINGS £45

We plundered a number of ‘Feis’ bottlings when we visited back in May and thought other folks might like to try these incredible whiskies. Whiskies from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, plus for a limited time, Octomore (Bruichladdich) are all included. At only £45, this is a fantastic opportunity to taste these sought after bottlings…Click HERE for more.

WORLD WHISKIES £30

Ever wondered what whiskies from around the world taste like? Are they any good?  Well we can certainly answer positively to the second question, but you’ll have to sample for yourself for the answer to the first.  A fantastic pack full of flavourful whiskies from far-flung corners of the world, just waiting to prove to you that good whisky needn’t always be Scottish…Click HERE for more.

OLD & RARE £70

Fancy trying something a little more hard to come by? Don’t fancy forking out for a full bottle? Our ‘Old & Rare’ pack could be the answer with some cracking whiskies from the archives of time. The 1st Edition includes a 35 Year Old Glenturret, a 1974 Glenlivet and the Lagavulin 2013 Feis Ile bottling…click HERE for more.

BURNS(ISH) NIGHTS JANUARY 2015

Our legendary and traditional new year tastings are back for 2015! At a venue near you we will be tasting some fantastic whiskies and feeding you with a yummy snack or meal – venue dependent. We may even read a poem or two in honour and remembrance of the Scottish bard, but the emphasis is on the whisky. Prices vary so please check website.

Click on the relevant date and venue for tickets…

BURN(ISH) NIGHT – DATES AND VENUES:

LONDON Weds 21st JAN 7pm SALT BAR, SEYMOUR St. W2
LEEDS Thursday 22nd JAN 7pm CROSSKEYS, WATER LANE
NEWCASTLE Friday 23rd JAN 7pm BLACKFRIARS, FRIARS STREET
MANCHESTER Friday 23rd JAN 7pm BRITONS PROTECTION
YORK Saturday 24th JAN 7pm BRIGANTES, MICKLEGATE
SHEFFIELD Announcement shortly
LIVERPOOL Announcement shortly
BRIGHTON Announcement shortly

Just click on the venue closest to you to book now.

EARLY-BIRD 2 FOR £40  FOR…

We are proud to present our first Whisky Festival of 2015!

Now in its 7th year, Newcastle Whisky Festival has become unmissable for the fine whisky-loving folks of Tyneside. Whiskies from Scotland and all over the world will be on show (and tasting of course) from the people who make and sell it.  Add to this masterclasses and the opportunity to purchase on the day and your in for a good one.  We are doing things slightly differently this year, with 2 sessions to choose from – 11am to 3pm or 4pm to 8pm.  We have 50 pairs of tickets for each session on this special 2 for £40 Early Bird – so be quick in order to take advantage of this! Click HERE or on the banner.

BLIND ISLAY FURY £20

With all of this excitement it is perhaps easy to forget that we have our most popular series of the year about to start. We have already sold out 3 of the venue tastings but still have some places in the others.  As always, in these blind sessions, we are tasting six whiskies ‘blind’ so therefore creating an even playing field and really testing your palate. As previously, if you’re not able to make it to one of the tastings, you can get involved by buying one of our tasting from home packs.

BLIND ISLAY FURY – DATES & VENUES

LONDON Weds 5th NOV 7pm SOLD OUT
LIVERPOOL Weds 12th NOV 7pm JENNY’S BAR, FENWICK ST.
LONDON Weds 12th NOV 7pm SOLD OUT
LEEDS Thursday 13th NOV 7pm CROSSKEYS, WATER LANE
NEWCASTLE Friday 14th NOV 7pm SOLD OUT
MANCHESTER Friday 14th NOV 7pm BRITONS PROTECTION
YORK Saturday 15th NOV 7pm BRIGANTES, MICKLEGATE
SHEFFIELD Tuesday 18th NOV 7pm THE TAP, SHEFFIELD STATION
BRIGHTON Weds 19th NOV 7pm LORD NELSON, TRAFALGAR ST.
NEWCASTLE Friday 28th NOV 7pm BLACKFRIARS, NEWCASTLE

MOVEMBER

As some of you will know, we are big fans and supporters of Movember. This fantastic charity traditionally raises awareness for male prostate cancer but has added further strings to its bow this year.  We continue to support through our Movember tasting in York on the 28th of November and, new for this year, we are presenting a couple of special tastings at The Whisky Sessions on the 21st and 22nd.  Eddie is shaving his much-loved beard off as we speak (it takes a while) and would love for you to support him in his ‘mo growing endeavours – click HERE if you would like to.

We hope you agree there’s something for every whisky-lover in this little lot. We will have more news soon on further festivals, our customer trip to the Feis Ile 2015 and a new competition as we couldn’t fit it in this time!

Take care and we hope to see you over a dram soon.

Slainte,
Eddie, Amanda and Joe
The Whisky Lounge Team.

Here is my new press release for you to schedule for this coming Wednesday.

Please use the usual photo. 

This week Joe Ellis reviews Johnnie Walker Swing! 

http://youtu.be/c53kTKvEzOI 

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

 

 

www.ralfy.com chills out with a successful double cask matured malt-option with Whisky Review 498 – Glenmorangie Lasanta 12yo @ 46%vol

 

Mackmyra – a very Swedish style of whisky

This year I decided to overcome the post-Whisky Show blues by visiting a distillery (and a country) that’s been on my bucket list for a few years – Sweden’s Mackmyra. ‘The founders wanted to create a whisky that was Swedish. But what did that mean? It had never been done before’, area sales manager (and half-Scot) Lisa Collins told me – a statement that highlights the ethos of the distillery from the beginning.

I made a brief stop at the original Mackmyra distillery – operational 1999-2013

The distillery, named after the village in which the originally distillery was located, is pronounced ‘mack-moyra’ and translates from old Swedish as ‘small mosquito’. I questioned whether including ‘mac’ in the name was a nod to the Scots, but as Lisa pointed out, the founders were trying to make its Swedishness a point of difference, discounting the theory.

Area sales manager Lisa Collins with 30-litre casks in the ‘forest warehouse’

The founding group of four couples included a chemist, an economist and a marketer, and when Angela D’Orazio, the current master blender, joined from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 2004, everything was in place to create an internationally renowned whisky brand. The distillery started by selling 30-litre casks to customers under the Reserve programme.

Customers can choose between one of two recipes – elegant (unpeated) or smoke (peated) – and the type of cask: bourbon, sherry, Swedish oak or ‘gravity’ (a bourbon cask with Swedish oak ends). In an effort to ensure the customers feel closer to their casks (in Lisa’s words, ‘taste from, touch, photograph and sign them’), they are housed in one of five warehouses dotted around Sweden, depending on the customer’s location – at the distillery (in the east) Fjäderholmarna (an island off the coast of Stockholm); Häckeberga Castle (in the south); Smögen (in the west); and the Bodås mine (central) – as well as one in Germany (Gut Basthorst near Hamburg).

A tunnel in the huge Bodås mine

My visit began in Gävle, the city that houses the new distillery. Birch trees (easy to spot due to their white bark, and also the inspiration for one of their new whiskies) lined the roads throughout the 40-minute drive to the company’s underground warehouse in the former Bodås mine. I was immediately struck by both the sheer scale and the smell of the place. With thousands of Swedish oak casks stored there, the pungent smell from the spicy wood – reminiscent of horseradish – filled the air and was overpowering at times.

The mine stays at around 7°C at all times, so maturation is slow, dispelling another accusation aimed at the company, that the use of 30-litre casks was chosen to speed up the ageing process. In reality, the company’s first pot still produced 30 litres of spirit at a time, and it was taking more than a week to fill 100-litre casks, so they found a Swedish cooper to rebuild the casks into smaller ones. Lisa says: ‘He was happy; up until then, he’d been rebuilding casks for people to use in their gardens!’

Mackmyra’s new gravity distillery

Leaving the mine, we headed via the original distillery – no longer regularly producing spirit, although the equipment is still in place (the listed building was unsuitable for expansion) – to the new whiskyby (whisky village). Built in 2011 on the site of an ex-military shooting range, the new distillery has enabled production to be doubled, and uses gravity rather than electricity in many aspects of the production process.

Taking the lift to the top (eight floors up), I was rewarded with a stunning view over the forest, highlighting the natural environment surrounding the distillery. Making our way past the washbacks which, after a competition among cask owners, are named after 12 of them, we reached the stills. Made by Forsyths of Rothes (proving the distillery hasn’t turned its back on all things Scottish), they are replicas of those at the original distillery. Lisa told me: ‘We’ve done tastings between the old and new stills, and while the end result is the same high quality, there’s more of it – a bigger heart’. Mackmyra produces both unpeated and peated whisky and all the barley for the latter is malted on site. It’s estimated that there is peat underneath 25% of Sweden, so in keeping with the distillery’s ethos, all the peat used is from the nearby Karinmossen peat bog and for an extra-Swedish touch, twigs of juniper are added to the kiln during peating, to add a sweeter note.

Due to local laws only allowing spirits sales through the government-owned retailer Systembolaget, it was the first distillery I’d been to where you can’t buy bottles. In addition, the distillery has had to add a restaurant to even be allowed to let customers sample their whiskies, although Mackmyra have taken advantage of this by creating a menu around whisky pairings using local ingredients, as well as the services of a chef who used to work at the UK’s three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck. To end my visit, we decamped to a local hotel that carries a large amount of Mackmyra’s produce for a tasting with food – it seems us Brits pair food with wine, Germans do it with beer and the Swedes with whisky. Here are my views on four quite different expressions:

Mackmyra Vit Hund, 46.1%, £33.45 (50cl)

Vit Hund (‘white dog’) is the distillery’s new-make offering, made using unpeated barley, watered down to drinking strength and bottled without ageing.
Nose: Grappa-like nose with fruity notes of green apples, pears and grapes.
Palate: Raw and warming, with the apple and pear notes from the nose joined by pineapple and sweet nutmeg spice.
Finish: Medium in length, with the spiciness increasing to the end.
Comment: The house style is evident here, with notes of green apple and pear which are found in many of the distillery’s whiskies.

Mackmyra The First Edition, 46.1%, £44.45
The first single malt to be released by the distillery, The First Edition was launched in 2008. Predominantly aged in ex-bourbon casks (of which half are 100 litres and half are 200 litres), with a small number of sherry casks and 5% Swedish oak in the mix.
Nose: Fruit led, with green apples, pears and a hint of mango.
Palate: Creamy texture, with apple, pear and dried apricots; a clove spiciness from the Swedish oak, and a vanilla undertone.
Finish: Medium, with the vanilla the last flavour to dissipate.
Comment: This is the expression that put Swedish whisky on the map, and it’s still going strong six years later – the distillery’s benchmark bottling doesn’t disappoint.

Mackmyra Midnattsol, 46.1%, £55.95
A very Swedish style of whisky, matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon and ‘gravity’ casks, before a finishing period in casks which used to hold birch-sap wine – this should be different:

Nose: Sour lemons, horseradish (that’ll be the Swedish oak), with the trademark pear note and sweet nutmeg in the background.
Palate: Mouth-coating texture, with a warming horseradish spiciness, pear and vanilla from the American oak more prominent than on the nose.
Finish: Medium, with the spicy oak notes continuing to a drying finale.
Comment: The flavour profile is unlike any whisky I’ve tasted before. This isn’t for everyone, but for those who are adventurous and like a spicier style, it’s worth trying.

Mackmyra Bee Honey Whisky Liqueur, 22%, £28.45 (50cl)
Bee is a combination of Swedish whisky and malt vodka, with organic honey collected from the surrounding area (Gävle and Valbo) – is a mixture of dandelion, linden and forest honeys, with some raspberry flowers.

Nose: Dry honey (floral rather than sweet), lavender, iced tea, and a hint of cinnamon (remiscent of Dentyne Classic).
Palate: It tastes exactly as it smells, with the iced tea turning into cold tea, with the associated dry tannins.
Finish: Short to medium, with a slightly-sweet honeyed ending.
Comment: A very different style of honey whisky liqueur. No sugar is added, so all the sweetness (albeit a small amount) comes from the honey. It’s refreshing, but doesn’t quite satisfy my sweet tooth – a liqueur for those who usually find the category too sweet for them.

One of the aspects of whisky I find the most interesting is how different distilleries use the same three ingredients (water, barley and yeast), but make their own style of whisky. I applaud Mackmyra’s ideal of making whisky in a very Swedish manner and staying true to the founders’ roots at all times, something Lisa told me she fell in love with, when first discovering the brand. If you are sceptical about whiskies from outside Scotland, I’d thoroughly recommend a trip to Mackmyra, After years in the trade, I remain convinced the best way to understand a product (or a brand), is to go to where it’s made and discover its home environment.

What a busy fall its been. I spent 10 days in Scotland in September, mostly on the west coast, leading a pilgrimage to Islay, Campbeltown and Arran. I came back for a flurry of events over two weeks and then took off again on another whisky pilgrimage this time, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Both were amazing trips. Once again I returned to a flurry of events which will hit fever pitch starting on Saturday when Michael Urquhart pops in for a farewell tasting.

I’ve known Michael nearly as long as I’ve been with KWM. Michael is one of the fourth generation Urquharts to own and manage Gordon & MacPhail. For the last five years or so he’s been their Managing Director. We’ve had a great relationship with Gordon & MacPhail over the years, and have done well with their brands including the Benromach Distillery which they acquired in 1993. Michael announced his retirement earlier in the year, and we jumped at the chance to throw him a farewell tasting at our store. We’ve got an incredible range for it including a pair of Port Ellens, a 1975 Dallas Dhu (closed) and 5 different Benromachs including the 1969 ($1300) and 1976 (coming soon). You’ll regret missing this event if you do, and the good news is we still have a few open spots, A Farewell to Michael Urquhart $130.

Next week is our busiest week of whisky tastings all year. On Monday night we are launching Springbank Society bottlings for the first time in Canada with Ranald Watson, Springbank Society Launch $30. Then on Tuesday we’ll be turning up the heat with some heavily peated Kilchomans presented by the distillery’s founder and director Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Master Class $30. Wednesday is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s November Outturn tasting and then on Thursday it is time for Glen Garioch… KWM has a new cask of Glen Garioch coming, and we’re having a mini festival to celebrate its launch, Glen Garioch Cask Launch $25. Info on all these tastings can be found below. Our sold out Fall Single Malt Festival follows on the 13th.

One little item that’s kept us very busy this fall is the 2014 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar. We’ve put our hands on 24 different 50ml whiskies, one of which is 40 years of age and retails for $750 for a full size bottle. Each calendar includes a special Glencairn glass for tasting and a great range of whiskies. We built 288 of them, and at the time of writing just 35 remain unsold! They’ll likely be gone by the end of this week!

There are some other great whiskies to tell you about in this Malt Messenger Bulletin, including the new Glenmorangie Companta, the final edition of the Arran Devil’s Punch Bowl and a cool new Ardbeg Escape gift pack. There is also other news on Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Old Pulteney and the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015.

Finally, tickets are now on sale for the 2015 MS Calgary Whisky Festival. There are two ticket options this year, standard $99 and VIP $149, the latter of which includes earlier access and a special tasting feature a new top shelf Macallan. Hope to see you there!

I trust this email finds you well and that you are easing into the cooler weather ahead with a warming dram or two.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

Whisky Week Tastings Start this Saturday

Springbank Society Launch – Scotland’s oldest family owned distillery launches a couple of limited release Sprigbank Society bottlings every year for their members. These weren’t available to Canada, until now. Ranald Watson from Springbank will be here for a special a mini festival tasting featuring 4 Society bottlings, and a range of other whiskies from Scotland’s most traditional disitllery. We’ve added room for an additional 20 participants. $30

Kilchoman Distillery Master Class – Kilchoman Distillery Founder and Director Anthony Wills will be our guest of honour for the evening leading us through a tasting a presentation on his Islay distillery which turns 10 years old next year! We have a great range including 2 limited expressions, Kilchoman Small Batch and the soon to arrive Port Wood! – $30

Glen Garioch Cask Launch – Kensington Wine Market has an exceptional exclusive Glen Garioch cask on the way, it will be here next week. To celebrate we’re throwing an open house, mini-festival style tasting. You’ll have the chance to sample a range of whiskies from Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch, including our new cask! – $25

Visit us online at HERE to see our full tasting schedule and register, or call us at 403-283-8000.

The 2014 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar is Here

And it selling quickly… only 50/288. – $360+GST

Last year’s Whisky Advent Calendar from Master of Malt was a huge success. It sold out quickly, and customers loved it, but we felt we could do a little better for the price point. For 2014 we’ve put together our own calendar, complete with a bespoke Glencairn glass and 24 50ml bottles (last year’s were 30ml). The actual list of whiskies is a surprise, but here’s a hint: One of the whiskies is 40 years old and retails for more than $700 a bottle (750ml)! This is the perfect pre-Christmas gift for the whisky lover in your life and a great way to lift your spirits.

The calendars are available in store and online while supplies last. As of this morning there are just 35 left!

Introducing: The Glenmorangie Companta

The Latest Release in the Private Collection Range

Every year Glenmorangie releases a unique expression in its Private Collection range. The 2014 release is called Companta, Scots Gaelic for “friendship”. This 5th Private Collection release follows Sonnalta, Finealta, Artein and Ealanta, all now sold out, and is a worthy successor to the range. The whisky has been created with inspiration from Dr. Bill Lumsden’s (the director of Whisky Creation and Distilling for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg) travels through France looking for the finest casks. After maturing in American white oak, the whisky was ‘extra matured’ in hand selected wine casks from one of the most celebrated Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy, Clos de Tart. These Burgundian casks add berry fruits and citrus notes. Other whiskies were also blended (yes it is still a single malt) from other casks which once contained a fortified wine from the Cotes du Rhone.

As with all the Private Collection releases before it the Companta is very limited and will not last long. KWM has already sold through 1/4 of our allocation, and it just got here!

Glenmorangie Companta  – 46% – My Tasting Note: Nose: “Immediately a massive hit of butterscotch, leather, candied nuts, dark fruits, tobacco and chocolate; a little like a Negroni, with a very creamy and fruity base; Palate: dark and fruity, loads more candied nuts, dark spices like clove, anise and fennel, leathery and chocolaty with more tobacco and some tart Negroni-like notes; a big hit of Cherry Halls over some creamy honey and vanilla; Finish: long and a bit Halls like; more fading cherries, tart fruits and spices. – $114.99

Introducing the Arran Devil’s Punch Bowl III

The final release in the trilogy: Chapter III The Fiendish Finale!

The Isle of Arran has released some exciting and very tasty whiskies since it started distilling in 1995. There have been a number of one offs over the years, but none have been quite so well received as the Devil’s Punch Bowl trilogy. I don’t recall the distillery mentioning it before, I may have missed the fact, but I was a little surprised when the 3rd whisky was released and they announced that it would be the final edition. The first two were very popular, and there is no reason to suspect that the 3rd would be any different.

The Devil’s Punch Bowl series is named for a prominent and dramatic geological feature (a glacial hollow) on the northeastern end of the Isle of Arran. The three releases in the series, though slightly different from one another, have all shared a strong sherry influence and the introduction of some prominent peaty tones. Arran has been distilling peated malt for almost a decade, but other than the Devil’s Punch Bowl releases, the only peated Arrans are bottled under the Machrie Moor Label. So these Arrans are quite uncharacteristic of the house style.

Appropriately this final release is called the Fiendish Finale, following Chapter III: Angels & Deamons. The whisky is appropriately limited to 6,660 bottles worldwide, with probably no more than 300 having found their way to Canada. The whisky is a marriage of 8 sherry butts, 8 French oak barrque and 5 ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at 53.4%. KWM has already sold through nearly half of the 60 bottles we acquired.

Arran Devil’s Punchbowl III – 53.4% – Andrew’s Tasting Note (sampled at the distillery in September): “Nose: at first some melon and tropical fruits, quickly displaced by clean smoke and grassy malt; some leather, dark fruits and spices linger; some of the classic honeyed floral notes; Palate: a tad punchy, and very fruity, excellent balance, building smoke and spices with a base of creamy vanilla oak and honey; some dark fruits and leather; Finish: leather, tobacco and chocolate with some malt and citrus fruits; medium finish. – $120.99

Ardbeg Escape Gift Packs

Not quite “Life Proof” but they look that way! $79.99

Looking for a great gift pack, a whisky and glasses you can “travel rough” with, or something to just stand out on your shelf? These new Ardbeg 10 Year gift packs will do the trick. They come complete with two “shorty glasses” and a bottle of damn fine whisky. Very limited quantities available!

Distiller’s Tasting Note for Ardbeg 10 Year: “Nose: A burst of intense smoky fruit escapes into the atmosphere – peat infused with zesty lemon and lime, wrapped in waxy dark chocolate. Bold menthol and black pepper slice through the sweet smoke followed by tarry ropes and graphite. As you dip your nose in further, savour the aroma of smoked fish and crispy bacon alongside green bell peppers, baked pineapple and pear juice. Palate: An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions on the tongue: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. This is followed by a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. Smoke gradually wells up on the palate bringing a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the taste lengthens and deepens, dry espresso, liquorice root and tarry smoke develop coating the palate with chewy peat oils. Finish: The finish goes on and on – long and smoky with tarry espresso, aniseed, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.” – $79.99

Order a set. – $79.99

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Tickets Now On Sale

Thursday, January 15, 2015 w/ 2 Ticket Options

The Macallan Reflexion
The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS

Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with more whiskies, more presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. New this year we are offering a VIP package, which will include a Macallan Master Class featuring a very rare and special bottling. The VIP Ticket is $149 and the regular ticket $99. Only 40 VIP tickets are available!

Get your tickets now, they won’t last long.

Order tickets through the MS Society by clicking here!

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015

The 10th Anniversary Edition – $30

This year’s edition includes articles by respected whisky authors: Johnny McCormick, Neil Ridley, Dominic Roskrow, Gavin D Smith, Charles (Charlie) McLean, Ian Buxton and Bernard Schafer. There 135 pages on malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, and another 100 pages on whiskies from around the world. If there is one must have annual whisky book, this is it!

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015 – $30

Coming Soon: Ardbeg Supernova 2014

A New Committee Release of the World’s Peatiest Whisky – $194.99

ETA mid-November, the latest incarnation of Ardbeg’s Supernova, the distillery’s peatiest release! From the Distillery: “Ardbeg’s first experiment in space has been slowly doing its thing for 3 long years. However, we predict excitement is set to gain momentum as we announce that the experiment is returning very soon and with it… a brand new limited edition Committee bottling of Ardbeg SUPERNOVA.”

Ardbeg Supernova 2014 – 55% – My Tasting Note (Sampled at the Chateau Lake Louise Launch): “Nose: clean ashy smoke, kelp drying on the rocks of a windswept beach, cooling bacon fat and Port Askaig lagostines in butter; creme caramel and chococlate whisky mouse; Palate: big and firey, massive oils, maritime notes, pine resin and earthy spice; burnt bacon, more steamed mussles, dark chocolate and espresso beans with clove and black licorice; as the palate adjusts it becomes creamier and sweeter with dark earthy smoke; Finish: long creamy and coating with dark yet smooth smoke, more seafood notes, dark spices and some bold cigar smoke; a surprising late surge of malt. – $194.99

Coming Soon: Glenmorangie Taghta

The World’s First Crowd Sourced Whisky – $114.99

ETA late November, this is the world’s first crowd sourced whisky. If you attended one of the many Cask Masters tastings held at KWM, accross Canada or one of 29 other countries around the world, you aided in its creation! Very limited quantities of this sherry finished whisky are to be released at a strength of 46%. Taghta is Scots Gaelic for selected!

From the Distillery: “Each of our unique expressions is a glorious marriage of wood and whisky. How the two complement each other is crucial. In the case of Taghta, we extra matured our Glenmorangie original whisky in three cask varieties for a number of years. Each one imparted its own unique flavour, depth and character into our whisky. Finally, we asked you to decide which one you preferred.”

Glenmorangie Taghta – 46% – Producer’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Curiously nutty and salty at full strength, reminding you of brazil nuts embedded in toffee, hints of linseed oil, and some savoury cured ham. A splash of water opens up the whisky, bringing into play a burst of aged balsamic vinegar, dried fruits, tangy-orange, and a gentle reminder of Christmas incense and spice. Taste: The texture is oily and viscous, with a delicious primary flavour of caramelised orange and lemon, plump sultanas, a hint of brown sugar, but then a wave of salty, briny notes – olives, salted cashew nuts and some nice, toasty oak flavours, like walnut and leather. Finish: The long aftertaste is rich, mellow and soothing, with flavours of toffee, caramel, chocolate and dates.” – $114.99

Old Pulteney Whiskies Back in Stock

Old Pulteney 17 and 21 Year Back for a Limited Engagement

For the first time in months we have stock of Old Pulteney 12, 17 and 21 year expressions. The later two won’t last long, as demand is high globally and there are rationed out to different markets. Old Pulteney was the northernmost mainland distillery in Scotland, until the nearby Wolfburn distillery opened.

Old Pulteney was built during a herring boom in the north of Scotland in 1826. Established near the tail end of the Highland Clearances the distillery was part of the Pulteneytown settlement named for Sir William Pulteney who had died in 1805. He was reputedly the wealthiest man in the United Kingdom in his day. The distillery’s early days were fueled by the seasonal fishing village who’s thirst for whisky was prodigious. According to legend half a liter per person, per day for every man, woman and child!

The distillery’s whisky was long underated until it’s 21 year was named world whisky of the year in the Whisky Bible in 2012. The 12 year has long been a reliable standby at its price point and as highly rated as the 21 year is, I’ve always been fond of the 17 (though it has changed considerably over the years).

Old Pulteney 12 Year – 40% – Matured in Ex-Bourbon – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Medium to high intensity, dry with a briny hint of sea air. Palate: Sweet, floral, citrus: lemon and lime plus dry banana skin. Smooth and faintly salty. – $64.99
Old Pulteney 17 Year – 46% – Matured Entirely in Ex-Sherry European Oak – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Sweet with traces of apples and pears: slightly woody with a hint of butterscotch. Palate: Sweet with soft fruits: kiwi, guava, peach. – $124.99
Old Pulteney 21 Year – 46% – Matured in Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry – Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Full bodied with traces of fruits (apples and pears); slightly fragrant with spicy overtones. Palate: Creamy, toffee, vanilla, baked red apple with a hint of smokiness and a dry finish. – $167.99

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!

Contact & Disclaimers

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

Manager & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

The Telegraph Whisky Experience

The Telegraph Whisky Experience, in partnership with The Whisky Shop, will bring together the UK’s leading industry experts, exclusive master classes and the world’s finest and rarest whiskies for a unique and unforgettable tasting experience.

This four hour private whisky fair will be held at the beautiful, historic setting of One Whitehall Place, London on Monday, December 1, 2014 with a choice of start times of 1pm and 6pm.

Guests will experience the newly released Haig Club as well as leading whiskies including Glenfiddich, Girvan, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, Glengoyne and Macallan. Join us to enjoy these malts plus many more and take the opportunity to purchase them at the event through the Whisky Shop.

READ MORE

Meet the host –  Whisky Expert Charles Maclean

Charles will be sharing his insider knowledge at The Telegraph Whisky Experience through a specially designed tasting guide featuring two contrasting whiskies – part of the Whisky Experience ticket.

READ MORE

Attend an exclusive Masterclass

Limited masterclasses will offer guests an insight into two leading whiskies. Choose between the Glenfiddich and Aberfeldy masterclasses and meet master blenders for an educational and inspiring session.

READ MORE

John, might I first say a big thanks to all the staff who looked after our guests from Sweden recently, also looking after myself and Liz with sample drams and cups of tea!

Q; With properties becoming available next door to the distillery, I know there are huge plans to expand, can you tell me what plans and a timescale?    A; It is a little early to talk about our plans in detail, however we will be looking at the possibility of adding additional warehousing and potentially bottling to the distillery.

Q; Will you be adding more stills?

A; We are happy with the level of production that we are achieving at this time.

Q; Staying with stills, what age are your stills just now and when would you look to replace?

A;  We have a regular maintenance program in place for our stills and so this is not something which we are currently looking at.

Q;  How will the new developments affect production?

A; With the plans that we are looking at for the site there would be no effect on production.

Q; Can we move to the actual whisky, many readers/members will not know just how many brands you have and how many different expressions you release, can you elaborate?

A;  Tullibardine has a core range of Tullibardine Sovereign, which is our signature malt, and three finishes – 225 (Sauternes), 228 (Burgundy) and 500 (Sherry).  We then also have a 20yo and 25yo expression.  We also own the Highland Queen and Muirhead’s brands of Scotch Whisky, which are widely distributed around the world.

Q; On a personal note, and for all drivers, will future plans include a coffee shop/restaurant?

A; We are focused on our whisky, so it is unlikely that we will put in a full coffee shop.  Tea or coffee are also available though for drivers at our visitor centre.

Q; Whilst there last week, I saw this fabulous bottle for £16,000, can you tell me all about this release please?

A;  We are in the process of launching the Tullibardine Custodian’s Collection, which is our exclusive super premium range.  Whiskies in the collection have a minimum age of 40 years, and are all bottled in the Custodian’s Decanter which has been handcrafted for us by Baccarat.  The whisky you saw is the Tullibardine 1952, which is bottled from the oldest cask that we own and is the first product in the collection, which will be officially released later this year.  The whisky is 60 years old.  We will also be introducing the Custodian’s Club at the same time, which is our exclusive distillery membership club.

Q; What is the oldest cask you have in the warehouses at the moment?  And do you have any plans for it?

A;1952 – which is being officially bottled later this year as the first product in the Custodian’s Collection.

Q; There are many finishes on offer from the distillery, is this something you may be doing more of in the coming years?

A;  There are only three finishes which are part of the core range.  We have no plans to introduce any more at this point.

Q; We all know that casks play a huge part in the final whisky, where do you obtain/select casks from?

A; All of the whisky for the Tullibardine brand is aged in first fill bourbon barrels.  Today we buy these directly from a source in the US to ensure that we control the quality of the wood that we are using.

Q; Do you feel awards and good write ups in books and magazines actually affect sales?

A; They definitely help the process and give reassurance to both the distiller and the consumer.

Q;How do you see the whisky industry advancing in the coming years?

A; The industry continues to develop strongly, and there is still great potential in many of the emerging markets which give us a very positive outlook for the future.

Q; Finally, at the end of the day, you sit down and relax with a dram – what dram would you select?

A; Tullibardine Sovereign!

John, many thanks for your time and we hope to see you again soon, as we bring our tours in to visit Tullibardine.

You can find out more on this Perthshire distillery at www.tullibardine.com

Should your group, club, or business wish to take a tour here, we can assist; www.mcleanscotland.com